Initiative to Stop the Ongoing Fighting between Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and Harakat Ahrar al-Sham al-Islamiyya (AAS)

  • Country/entity
    Syria
  • Region
    Middle East and North Africa
  • Agreement name
    Initiative to Stop the Ongoing Fighting between Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and Harakat Ahrar al-Sham al-Islamiyya (AAS)
  • Date
    19 Jul 2017
  • Agreement status
    Unilateral document
  • Interim arrangement
    Yes
  • Agreement/conflict level
    Intrastate/local conflict ( Syrian Conflicts (1948 - ) (1976 - 2005) (2011 - ) )
  • Stage
    Ceasefire/related
  • Conflict nature
    Inter-group
  • Peace process
    Syrian Local Agreements
  • Parties
    Sheikh Abu Muhammad al-Sadiq
    Sheikh Abd al-Rizaq al-Mahdi
    Sheikh Abi Hamzah al-Masri
  • Third parties
    Tahrir al-Sham and Harakat Ahrar al-Sham al-Islamiyya
  • Description
    4 point proposal by three sheikhs to end fighting between Tahrir al-Sham and Harakat Ahrar al-Sham al-Islamiyya. Calls for a ceasefire, the delegation of three individuals from each side, a meeting between the delegates. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham respond positively the same day (19.07.2019, see Initiative to Stop the Ongoing Fighting between HTS and Ahrar al-Sham), and then a agreement was announced via a statement on the 21.07.2019 (see Statement on Ceasefire between Ahrar al-Sham Hayat Tahrir al-Sham). This was broken and then renewed in an agreement on the 23.07.2019 (see Second Ceasefire between Ahrar al-Sham and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham).

Local agreement properties

  • Process type
    Informal but persistent process
  • Rationale
    -> Local issues only; no external support mechanism; culture of signing There is no formally established mechanism to support the negotiation between Salafi armed groups. Moreover, this agreement cannot be linked to the national peace process. Indeed, both groups have a Salafist ideology; they oppose the rule of Bashar al-Assad in Syria and reject the idea of a national negotiation to solve the conflict. Yet, it seems that both signing parties choose to solve daily pragmatic issues related to their armed struggle through agreements. Although one cannot speak of a “culture” of singing peace agreements, the parties are involved (in a non-proactive and non-conscious way) in a persistent practice of signing local agreements.
  • Is there a documented link to a national peace process?
    No
  • Link to national process: articulated rationale
    No link to the national peace process in Syria is mentioned in the agreement, neither it can be inferred from further research. The agreement does not involve local governance actors and the signing parties themselves are not official state representative. Yet, the agreement is related to multiple local level processes in Idlib governorate in July 2017.
  • Name of Locale
    NA
  • Nature Of Locale
    Region
  • GPS Lat/Long (DD)
    35.743974, 36.700182
  • Participant type
    Domestic religious organisation/leader or other elder
  • Mediator, facilitator or similar
    Mediator or similar referred to
    Mediator (references)
    The initiative of the mediation was launched by three clerics: Sheikh Abu Mohammed al-Sadiq, Sheikh Abdul Razzaq al-Mahdi, and Sheikh Abu Hamza al-Masri.
    Type of mediator/facilitator/similar
    Domestic religious organisation/leader or other elder

Local issues

  • Ritual/prayer and process (including use of scripture)
    Page 1, In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

    Page 1, He said the following: “No good is there in much of their private conversation, except for those who enjoin charity or that which is right or conciliation between people. And whoever does that seeking means to the approval of Allah - then We are going to give him a great reward.” (114) [Surah al-Nisa’]

    Page 1, In order to stem the blood of Muslims and spare loss in the midst of ongoing fighting, give priority to dialogue and resort to war, we call the conflict parties to the following:

    Page 1, Allah is the Conciliator.
  • Grievance List
    The agreement addresses the grievances of two Salafi-jihadi groups that lost a number of men during clashes for the control of villages in Idlib governorate.
  • Cattle rustling/banditry

    No specific mention.

  • Social cover

    No specific mention.

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

Initiative to Stop the Ongoing Fighting between Tahrir al-Sham and Harakat Ahrar al-Sham al-Islamiyya

He said the following:

“No good is there in much of their private conversation, except for those who enjoin charity or that which is right or conciliation between people.

And whoever does that seeking means to the approval of Allah - then We are going to give him a great reward.” (

114) [Surah al-Nisa’]

In order to stem the blood of Muslims and spare loss in the midst of ongoing fighting, give priority to dialogue and resort to war, we call the conflict parties to the following:

1. Cease fighting operations as of 12.00 on Wednesday 23 Shuwal 1438, corresponding to 19 July 2017.

2. All among the fighting parties are mandated to delegate three individuals authorized to make decisions on behalf of their party.

3. Both sides agree on three independents in the likelihood of controversy.

4. The Delegates from the two sides meet will meet with the independents to resolve the differences between them and develop a binding and comprehensive vision that takes into account the political, military and civil rights of the parties within seven days from the start date.

We call the brothers in Tahrir al-Sham and Harakat Ahrar al-Sham al-Islamiyya to quickly announce their approval of the initiative.

Allah is the Conciliator.

Signatories of the Initiative:

Sheikh Abu Muhammad al-Sadiq

Sheikh Abd al-Rizaq al-Mahdi

Sheikh Abi Hamzah al-Masri